Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Police in Portland, Ore., said Tuesday that detectives have found no evidence a series of hit-and-runs a day prior that resulted in the death of a pedestrian was motivated by terrorism.
"Detectives did not find evidence that this was an act of terrorism," the Portland Police Bureau said in a statement. "Detectives did not find bias indicators, nor do they believe this is politically motivated."
Police did say they believe the driver, whose identity has not been released, did intend to hit and injure people with his car.
At least 10 people, including two cyclists, were hit by a vehicle Monday afternoon over a span of dozens of Portland city blocks, resulting in the death of one person.
Authorities on Tuesday identified the deceased as 77-year-old Jean Gerich of Portland. The Oregon State Medical Examiner has ruled her death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.
"Jean Gerich was not a nameless victim," Gerich's family said in a statement released by the Portland Police Bureau. "She was a loving mother of two. She was a proud grandmother of five, ages four to 16. She would have turned 78 in 12 days. She beat cancer five years ago."
Her family said she had received the first of two COVID-19 vaccine shots last week and that she "was overjoyed to get out in the world again."
The Portland Police Bureau said it received a call about a hit-and-run on Monday at about 1 p.m. and as officers were responding, more reports of pedestrians hit came in.
Initially, police said six people were hit but the number of victims has since increased to 10.
Of the victims, seven were pedestrians "and one victim, due to head trauma, can't recall if they were in or out of their vehicle when they were hit," the Portland Police Bureau said, adding that five of the victims were transferred to the hospital by ambulance while a sixth arrived on their own.
The suspect was arrested after he crashed his vehicle and was restrained by witnesses as he attempted to flee the scene on foot.
Authorities said the suspect was transported to a local hospital where he remains. Blood has been drawn from the driver and sent to a lab for analysis, police said.
Portland Police Bureau Chief Chuck Lovell said the series of hit-and-runs was "traumatic" for the community of Portland.
"All of us at PPB send our sincere condolences to the loved ones of the person who was killed as well as our hopes for recovery to those injured," he said. "We are committed to a full investigation so that the person involved can be held accountable for these senseless acts of violence."
